The Dunellen High School softball team is experiencing a youth movement this season, and so far, it seems to be working out just fine.

According to Pat Appello, in his 11th year as head coach, the Destroyers can start four freshmen and three sophomores depending on the game.

Freshman Elizabeth Renavitz, who was voted the Home News Tribune Softball Player of the Week, has emerged as the starting pitcher for Dunellen, and has allowed 35 runs, 26 earned, on 47 hits, walked 25 and struck out 58 in 48 1/3 innings.

"She’s been playing through the system for a while, she plays rec and played in middle school and she’s on several travel teams," Appello said. "She’s a solid player and extremely dedicated, she puts a lot of time and effort into the sport and it’s paying off."

Renavitz is also batting .448 with 14 RBI, 10 runs scored, three doubles, one triple and one stolen base.

On April 14 against Bound Brook, Renavitz went 3-for-5 with three runs scored. She also allowed two earned runs on five hits and struck out seven in six innings. Against Spotswood on April 18, she went 2-for-4 with three RBI and allowed three earned runs on four hits and struck out six in six innings. She also pitched a five-hit shutout, walked two and struck out five in a 1-0 win over Metuchen on April 20.

"I've been playing for around seven or eight years now. I started playing just to do it, I think I was around second grade and I got into pitching because of my cousin who also pitches," Renavitz said. "She played for Bishop Ahr and she did travel softball and that has definitely pushed me to do travel softball and be dedicated to the sport."

Renavitz has helped Dunellen to a 7-1 record so far this season and the Destroyers are currently atop the Greater Middlesex Conference Blue Division at 6-0.

"I think that we really trust each other, we’ve all been going to school together for a long time and have known each other so long, we know our strengths and weaknesses as players and as people off the field," Renavitz said of her teammates. "I think that type of connection has helped us understand each other and if we make a mistake it’s OK and we can keep going."

Panzarella on verge of history

South Plainfield head coach Don Panzarella is flirting with history. The long-time Tigers coach is one win away from tying the state's all-time win record of 743, and two away from breaking the record, which is currently held by retired Middletown South coach Tom Erbig. South Plainfield travels to North Brunswick on Saturday at 11:30 a.m., and will play a double header on Monday at J.F. Kennedy at 4 p.m. and at Perth Amboy at 6:30 p.m.

Buy Photo

South Plainfield Coach Don Panzarella holds up their trophy and celebrates with his team. South Plainfield Softball wins nail biter over Steinert in Group III Championship at Kean University in Union NJ on June 4, 2017.(Photo: Peter Ackerman)

Top 10

1. Bishop Ahr (13-1): Bishop Ahr has won eight in a row since a loss to Old Bridge on April 14, including its second win of the season over GMC White Division rival South Plainfield in 10 innings on Thursday. The Trojans have allowed seven runs in those eight games, with four shutouts. Bishop Ahr will face Livingston on Saturday and host North Brunswick in a White Division matchup on Monday.

2. J.P. Stevens (11-3): J.P. Stevens remains undefeated in the GMC Red Division at 8-0 and is riding a three-game win streak since a loss to Bishop Ahr on April 21. Emily Tavares has been stellar on the mound for the Hawks this season, having allowed 38 runs, 15 earned, on 82 hits with 97 strikeouts in 87 innings. Seven players on the roster are also batting above .300. J.P. Stevens faced off against Metuchen on Friday and will host Monroe on Monday.

3. South Brunswick (7-1): South Brunswick has won three in a row since narrowly losing to J.P. Stevens 3-2 back on April 18. The Vikings have outscored opponents 19-4 in those three games, with Carly Rybinski and Lindsey Warick leading the way. Rybinski is currently batting .714 having gone 20-for-28 with 11 RBI, 20 runs scored, six doubles, two triples, two home runs and 16 stolen bases. Warick is batting .654, 17-for-26 with 25 RBI, 11 runs scored, four doubles and a triple. The Vikings had their game against Monroe rained out Friday, but will travel to Moorestown on Saturday.

4. South Plainfield (10-4): South Plainfield had a seven-game win streak snapped with a 2-0, 10-inning loss to Bishop Ahr on Thursday. The Tigers are currently tied for second in the White Division at 6-3 and are on pace to give coach Don Panzarella the all-time state wins record. Junior Jillian Holoboski has been strong on the mound this season as she has allowed 25 runs, 15 earned, on 76 hits with 89 strikeouts in 94 innings. She's also batting .471 with 24 hits, 16 RBI, 15 runs scored, seven doubles and three home runs.

5. Old Bridge (8-4): Old Bridge has won two in a row and six of its last seven games. In its last two wins, the Knights have outscored opponents 33-8. Old Bridge was scheduled to travel to East Brunswick on Friday and will host Spotswood on Saturday for Senior Day.

6. Monroe (8-4): Monroe has won three in a row since falling to Toms River South on April 21. The Falcons' three-pronged pitching attack in Sarah Stepnowski, Olivia Quercia and Paige Kucharski has been strong this season, and will look to extend the win streak against West Windsor-Plainsboro South on Saturday and J.P. Stevens on Monday.

7. J.F. Kennedy (7-4): J.F. Kennedy has bounced back with two straight wins after a two-game losing streak to Bishop Ahr and Woodbridge. The Mustangs traveled to Colonia on Friday for the second meeting of the season, and will host South Plainfield on Monday.

8. Colonia (9-7): Colonia has gone 2-1 in its last three games, with wins against Perth Amboy and Sayreville and a 4-3 loss to Monroe. The Patriots faced J.F. Kennedy on Friday and will travel to rival Woodbridge on Monday.

9. North Brunswick (7-5): North Brunswick bounced back from a two-game skid with a 4-3, 10-inning win over Woodbridge on Thursday. The victory gave the Raiders seven wins for the year, which surpassed last season's win total of six. North Brunswick has a tough stretch coming up, with games against South Plainfield on Saturday and Bishop Ahr on Monday.

10. South River (11-2): South River has won three in a row since falling to Bound Brook April 20 and remain atop the GMC Gold Division at 8-0. The Rams had their game against Piscataway Tech rained out Friday, but will host East Brunswick Tech on Monday.

10. Dunellen (7-1): Dunellen suffered its first loss of the season Thursday against Ridge, but remains atop the Blue Division at 6-0. The Destroyers hosted Carteret on Friday and will travel to Mother Seton on Monday.